$1 Vintage Spry Shortening Cookbook, complete with Aunt Jenny Cartoons

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

I had a bit of fun with this 1940s Spry cookbook I'd found for $1 and thought you guys might get some chuckles, too. I think this is one James Lileks had done a treatment of in his Gallery of Regrettable Food (my copy of his book is AWOL in my attic at the moment, so I haven't been able to refresh my memory), but I'm fairly certain this look at it is a bit different.. (insert maniacal laughter here)

Anyway, I know many of us get a kick out of these things, so I thought I'd share:

http://thriftshopromantic.blogspot.com/2008/09/spryford-wives-recipes-from-digestible.html

Let's meet... The Spryford Wives.

[SeSo_Says_So]

You're EVIL!!! EVIL, I tell you!! You're going STRAIGHT to HELL, young lady. In a HANDBASKET!

But seriously, I loved it all. I read it in mortal terror of the punch line.
You are insane. But that's why we love you here!

It all sounds so...well, um, so dirty.  Triple creamed, hmmm? O really, now? I wonder what those nice folk did when they weren't cooking or eating or digesting, with all that stuff around.

The mind reels. You made me laugh and laugh and laugh!!!!

Get Thee Behind Me, Satan,
SeSo
 

[Jay2TheRescue]

Hmmm, "Digestible" pie crust?  I've never encountered pie crust that wasn't.  I've never seen a pie crust floating in the toilet, and then think "Gee, that was undigestible"  I guess it had a lot to do with the culture of the day, and unless you lived it you probably wouldn't understand it.

-Jay

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

I figure there HAS to have been some sort of alternative at the time-- maybe non-vegetable lard-- that was hard to digest for little kids or something... I just don't know the history on it, but there has to be a reason it's being touted as so digestible. There HAS to be!

SeSo, well, yes, okay, maybe it's a LITTLE bit evil. But the insanity excuses that, right? I can accept that.

Happy digesting!

[SeSo_Says_So]

Jay, That's what I like about you. You get to the heart of the matter.

TSR, you are delightfully delightful in your literary "madness". Thanks for making me laugh (and digest). xoxox

[genuineimitation]

so.. help me out here...
HOW OLD IS SHE SUPPOSED TO BE?? she looks like calvin's mother (which is bad for calvin either way you look at it..)

i like the sewing circle ladies - they look to be admiring the effect the cold cream, er, shortening, has on their hands

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

GenuineImitation- Didn't you know? Spry was a wonderful skin moisturizer.

I think it's the wig and the Betsy Ross glasses that make Aunt Jenny just look so much older than Calvin. Plus, with Calvin, it's really hard to get past seeing anything but his gigantic insanely happy grin.

[Jay2TheRescue]

GenuineImitation- Didn't you know? Spry was a wonderful skin moisturizer.

I think it's the wig and the Betsy Ross glasses that make Aunt Jenny just look so much older than Calvin. Plus, with Calvin, it's really hard to get past seeing anything but his gigantic insanely happy grin.

I hear if you slathered your whole body in Spry, and then laid out in the sun you'd get a wonderful tan, and soft, supple skin.

-Jay

EDIT:  Now that I've thought about it I can't help but think about the episode of Seinfeld where Kramer was using butter as a moisturizer. 

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

Well, Jay-- They say Spry is great for baking.

They didn't specify baking what.

[SeSo_Says_So]

I figured it would make a great personal lubricate...dirty minds, I didn't say of what! But it is tasty and gooey, after all, slick on the taste buds. So what's not to like?

[Jay2TheRescue]

Ok, now that is just plain gross...

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

I think you may have out-Spryed us all, SeSo...

[anastasiabeaverhausen]

I am just cracking up at you guys! I collect cookbooks for my sis in law, she especially likes name brand cookbooks..I thought the G E silent hostess was the funniest...it had paragraphs about *you women who dont have a a maid* and be sure to wash off all blood and foreign debris off your meat before storing in your new GE fridge...but this Spry is the best.....I forwarded it to her...am still laughing here.

[SeSo_Says_So]

Ok, now that is just plain gross...

Jay, you naughty boy! Whatever do you think I mean? Certainly if would be a great lubricant for glossy brows, softening cuticles, hair conditioner. Get it...personal lubricant. Geesh!

[genuineimitation]

I figured it would make a great personal lubricate...dirty minds, I didn't say of what! But it is tasty and gooey, after all, slick on the taste buds. So what's not to like?

...thus calvin's insanely happy grin.